Starbucks is Making Lower-Sugar Frappuccinos, But…

They're not much healthier

Healthy Living

Every year, Starbucks takes flack for the mountains of sugar it puts in its Frappuccino drinks. As more people start to understand how health-damaging sugar can really be, they’re making the decision to reduce total sugar consumption. In response to this awakening, Starbucks is testing lower-sugar Frappuccinos, but don’t too excited – they’re still swimming in the sweet stuff.

The lower-sugar caramel Frappuccinos are currently being tested in 600 stores in California, Missouri, and Rhode Island. The original version contained a whopping 67 grams of sugar, but the slimmed-down version contains a “mere” 49 grams – 25% less, but not really something to celebrate.

Oh, and the lite Frappuccinos contain 50 fewer calories in the original, so there’s that.

To give you an idea of how much sugar is in one of the newfangled drinks, consider this:

A 16 oz. regular Slurpee from 7-Eleven contains about 36 grams of sugar

The Wall Street Journal reports that fewer people are buying Frappuccinos. Sales of the frozen drinks fell 3% this year through May. That’s bad news for Starbucks since Frappuccinos account for 11% of its revenue. [2]

A Starbucks spokesperson said:

“We know that our customers are seeking balance with cold, less indulgent beverages.”

Adults should cap their daily sugar intake at 25 grams a day for women and 36 grams for men, according to the American Heart Association. Though if you’re not used to staying away from sugar, you should be happy staying under 100g of sugar per day. [1]

A low-sugar Frappuccino is definitely not the way to slim your waistline.